Counter top



Sept 7 1954 w. A. NORMAN ETAL 2,688,523

COUNTER TOP Filed Sept. 7, 1951 Q /f/ i 6 l' 9 Patented Sept. 7, 1954 COUNTER TOP Wayne A. Norman and Charles K. Sitterly,

Dubuque, Iowa, assignors to Carr, Adams & Collier Company, Dubuque, Iowa, a corporation of Iowa Application September 7, 1951, Serial No. 245,522

2 Claims.

This invention relates to a top applicable to counters, such as are installed in kitchens and other places, the object being to provide an improved construction whch may be made at the factory and then be applied on the job. In the construction of homes where cabinets are installed in the kitchen it is customary to provide counters with tops which will be suitably covered or finished to withstand the service conditions encountered in daily use. It is also desirable that the appearance of these counters be attractive, that they be proof against the deleterious effects of water, grease and like uids, that they be devoid of cracks or openings wherein small food particles may lodge, and that they be easy to install by the ordinary workman in a correct and satisfactory manner, even though his experience in such work be rather limited.

A counter top meeting all these requirements and having the desirable characteristics noted is the subject of this invention. The means and method by which this top is constructed and installed is also a feature of our invention a suggestive embodiment whereof is illustrated in the accompanying drawing wherein:

Figure 1 is a sectional exploded view through the components of our counter top before assembly thereof;

Fig. 2 shows, in vertical section, the main component of our counter top ready for assembly with the remaining components, and installation on the job; and

Fig. 3 is a sectional perspective view showing the counter top completed and installed.

The present counter construction includes a top 5, hereinafter referred to as a table, adapted to be supported upon a base cabinet (not shown) at a convenient working elevation. The rear edge of this table is longitudinally slotted at 6 to receive a spline 'I in tight fitting relation therewith. The same spline also fits tightly within a longitudinally extending slot 8 along the front of a cove mold 9 which is assembled with the table along its rearmost edge.

A recess I is formed along the front of the table on its top face, and a second recess I I opposite thereto is provided on its under face and extended rearwardly thereof for a slightly greater distance. The front edge of the table at a is rounded upwardly from its bottom face through 90 or more. A nosing mold I5 fitted into the top recess I0 is humped upwardly at b in its forward region. This hump on its forward side curves within the recess I0 (see Fig. 2). Along its rear edge the nose I5 is of the requisite thickness to lie flush with the top face of the table, and it provides, in effect, a continuation thereof characterized by a slight rise and then a smooth rounded curve near and at the front edge of the table.

The parts thus far described may be made of any suitable wood, plywood, or composition of material, and constitute what may be referred to l as the counter per se. The nose, however, may optionally be made of a harder or different material to better withstand in service blows which otherwise might produce dents. rl'he top for the counter is provided by an overlying sheet 20 desirably selected from any one of a number of available plastic materials. From the table bottom recess II where the front end portion d of the plastic sheet is fitted in place, the sheet extends upwardly and around the nose I5 and thence rearwardly across the table top and therebeyond, as shown in Fig. 2. When installed, this plastic sheet is adhesively secured in place to provide the exposed Working surface for the counter top. Its rearwardly extended front portion is also fully protected when fitted and held within the bottom recess II of the table 5, and this is an important consideration, particularly during the stages of shipping and handling.

When installation of the top is to be made, the cove 9 is affixed in place adjacent or upon a wall W where the counter is to be located. This y cove is formed with an upwardly curving back part e extending through nearly The table, complete with nose I5 and top sheet 20 assembled thereon, is then coupled to the cove 9 with the aid of the spline 'I which is interfitted in the slots 6 and 8 and there secured with a suitable cement. In this operation the rear end portion of the covering 2D' is flexed upwardly, following at f the concave contour of the cove and then extending vertically at y along the adjacent wall for a limited distance above the cove. A suitable cement is employed to secure the plastic top to the cove and the wall face thereabove. The vertically extending portion g of the plastic top provides a splash back whose top edge may be protected by an embracing, downwardly-facing channel molding 2| which is secured to the wall W.

In this construction there is nothing leftto guesswork. The rounded contour of the counter top at the front follows that of the nose which is interfitted with the table front edge and secured thereto adhesively or otherwise. Likewise the 90 curvature of the plastic top at f where it rises to provide the splash back g is determined by the contour of the cove face e which provides a backing therefor at this point. Accordingly the plastic sheet 2U is adequately backed both by the nose I5 and the table 5 through its horizontal portion, by the cove I5 through its curved portion f and by the wall W through its vertical' portion g;

In practice the counter is fabricated in the fiat and assembled to the stage indicated in Fig. 2, ready for shipping to the job. A counter of this description lends itself to ready installation with the splash back formed as an integral part of the plastic top, and it eliminatesal'so the necessity of any edge molding, thus saving4 inI cost and producing a distinctive and pleasing appearance.

We claim:

l. A counter top comprisinga table having, ad'- jacent its front edge a top recess extending along the entire length thereof, a nose formed with a longitudinally-extending, upwardly-raised hump,

the nose being tted into4 the top'- recess of thetable and secured therein, a cove molding fixed' to a wall and having its upper face formed with a concave contour, said cove molding being disposed` between the` wall and thetableand providing a supporting connection for the adjacent end of the table, intercoupling means on the table and cove molding for securing the one xedlyfto' the other including means defining horizontally disposed slots in the adjacent engaging faces of the table and cove molding extending along the length thereofand spline means for engagement in sai'd slots, a plastic sheet overlying the table and humped nose and'extending downwardly over the front edge of the table and rearwardly on itsA under side, the plastic sheet extending rearwardly above. and beyond' the table and then upwardly in conformity withthe concave contour of the. cove molding and, in` engagement therewith and with, the, surface. of the supporting wall. to

4 provide a splash back for the counter top, the plastic sheet being adhesively secured to the table, nose, cove molding and wall surface at substantially every point of contact therewith.

2. A counter top assembly adapted for support upon a base cabinet and for use with a Wall or similarsupport'comprising, acove molding aixed tothe wall, a table having adjacent its front edge a top recess extending along the entire front of the table, a nose of a length equal to that of the recess. formed with a longitudinally extending, upwardly raised hump, the nose being fitted into the top recess of the: table and secured therein, means at the'. rear of the table for securing the table. to thev covemolding including a slot in the rear vertical face` of the table extending along thev length of, the: table for receiving a spline extending horizontally from the cove molding, and a flexible` plastic sheet overlying the table and humped nose and extending downwardly over the frontl edgeV of the table and. rearwardlyl onY its under side, the plastic sheet extending above. theV table and beyondthe rear edge of the tableand being of a length sufficient to enable extension thereof over the cove molding and ontol the walll toiy forma splashl back.

References Cited in the file 0f this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 954,967 Jacobs Apr. 12,1910v 1,739,077 Lisher Dec. 10, 1929 2,038,638v Brey4 Apr. 28, 1936` 2,041,899- Brand MayA 26', 1936 2,378,402 Greimer June 19,I 1945f 2,439,027 Stanitz Apr. 6, 1948- 2,532,769 Houpt Dec. 5, 1950 2539,464 Norquist Jan'. 3, 1951 21,570,850' Pearson Oct. 9', 1951 2,594,516- Swisher Apr. 29;, 1952V 

